Box-tray machine.



Patented Aug. 27, I90I.

No. 68mm.

C. F. &. J. L. WIEST.

BOX TRAY MACHINE.

(Application mea un. 21, 1901.)

4 .Sheetswsheei l.

(No Model.)

-Zwennrg Y Patented Aug. 27, |90I. C. F. &. J. L. WIEST.

BOX TRAY MACHINE.

(Application tiled Mar. 21, 1001.) (Ho Hagel.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

*f 9 INVENTUM n p5 W1 m/ES 5.-

.gj/JJ 7. Y mmm@ No. 68mm. I Patented Aug. 27, |901. C. F. & J. L. WIEST.

BOX TRAY MACHINE.

(Application Bled Mar. 21, 1901.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(Nu Modal.)

Patented Aug. 27, I90I..

4. 5 m R W y. s m MW. M N .wz 4 ....m E0. www www. .Au LMM M l d Jwm m R M ouTm m .xm o. from. m 6.3.@ m, m 6 ||7 8 .m 6 .M 5 o. u E N M E N T m rrr Tras FFiCEt CLAYTON F. lVlEST AND JACOB L. WIEST, OF YORK, PENNSYLVANIA.

BOX-TRAY MACHINE.

SPEGFICATON forming part of Letters Patent N O. 681,601, dated August 27, 1901. Appui-.aigu ne@ nach 21, 1901. serai No. 52.256. ci@ model.)

To @ZZ wiz/0m] t may concern,.-

Beit known that we, CLAYTON F. VIEST and JACOB L. `WIEST, citizens of the United States, residing at York, in the county of York, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Box- 'lray Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

Thisinvention has relation to box-m achines, and particularly to that class of machines intended for the manufacture of that portion of sliding match-boxes which is known as the tray, although the invention is not confined to the manufacture of boxes or trays for the specific purpose mentioned.

Among the objects of the invention is to construct a machine of this class which shall be as simple as possible, contain a minimum number of parts or elements arranged in a compact manner, but which shall perform its functions smoothly, accurately, and without undue strain upon any of its working or stationary elements.

Furthermore, it is intended that the in vention shall be capable of receiving the strawboard or any other suitable material from which the trays are to be made in the form of a web or continuous strip and to paste, punch, score, cut off, fold, dry, and deliver successive portions of the continuous strip or web, whereby boxes or trays are formed and delivered from the machine automatically.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear in the following description, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of a complete machine constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 isa vertical longitudinal substantially central section of a portion of the machine embodying the invention. Fig. 3 is a perspective of a portion of the punching and cross-scoring cross-head. Fig. 4. is a similar perspective of the reciprocating cutter. Fig. 5 is a perspective of one-half of the separable former and its adjuncts. Fig. 6 is a perspective of the folding-fingers separated from the former. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of a stripper separated from the former. Fig. S is an enlarged detail, partly in section, of the pasting mechanism. Fig. 9 is a plan of the principal operative elements of the machine cooperatively arranged. Fig. lO is a plan of the material as it appears after the successive operations of the principal operative devices, and Fig. 1l is an elevation of the gearing employed for giving motion to the principal operative devices of the machine. Fig. 12 is a detail of one of a pair of levers employed.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

Upon any suitable framework A there is arranged a bed A', within and upon which are mounted punching and cross scoring mechanism B, longitudinal scoring mechanism C, feeding mechanism D, cut-olf mechanism E, and folding mechanism F, in the order mentioned and shown and in the order of the progress of the material through the machine.

Referring to Fig. l0, X represents the continuous strip of material from which boxes or trays are to be made; X, the cross-score; X2, openings formed by the punching devices; X3, the longitudinal scoring, and X4 the line of severance upon which blanks X5 are separated from the continuous strip, so that said blanks embody end flaps X6 and corner flaps X7, which after the end flaps are folded on the lines X are secured within and at the corners of the box or tray, as clearly shown at the left of Fig. l0. It is understood that the progress of the material through the machine is by a step-by-step or intermittent feed regulated to move the material a boxblank length at each feed thereof, whereby the cut-off severs a blank at the center of the openings X2, formed by the punches, and between the two score-lines X', so that the folding mechanism, being properly timed with relation to the feed of the material, produces a complete box or tray at each reciprocation of the former element of the folder mechanism.

Within the upright gibs B is a verticallyreciprocating head B2, carrying punches B3 roo and transverse creasers B4, secured to the head B2 by bolts Blx. Suitable gibs or wearing-plates B6 and set-screws B7 for the same are provided to take up the wear of the parts,

IIk)

as is usual in this class of machinery. B8, Fig. 2, represents a stripping-plate, beneath which the material passes and serves to hold the material down during an upward stroke of the punches and creasers to strip the material from those devices. A die-block B2 Y(see dotted lines in Fig. 2) is supported in the bed and directlyT below the punches, which block, in connection with the punches, serves to remove portions of the material to form the openings X2, Fig. 10, in the usual manner. In suitable bearings C in the bed of the machine and in the standards mounted thereon in advance of the punching-head are the longitudinal creasing or scoring rollers or disks C2, which by means of the bearings and adjusting-bolts C2 are caused to grip the material so as to be rotated thereby and to form the longitudinal score-lines X2.

D D represent feed-rollers mounted in suitable bearings and adjusted by bolts D as to their pressure or grip upon the material, so as to feed the same. These feed-rollers are geared together, as shown at D2, Fig. l, and are driven by a ratchet D3 and pinion, the latter meshing with the gear D2 and arranged upon the stud D4 with the ratchet, which is operated by a pawl D5, carried on the free end of the lever D", which by a rod or pitman DT is driven by means and in a manner hereinafter described.

The cut-O mechanism comprises upright bearings E and gibs and adjusting-screws E' for a reciprocatory cutter-head E2, into the lower edge of which at a recess E', Fig. 4, is screw-threaded or otherwise suitably secured a pitman or connecting-rod L4 for reciprocating the cutter-head by means hereinafter to be described. Upon the face of the cutterhead is secured the blade E6, (by means of screws or bolts E92) which is adapted in a downward reciprocation of the rod to sever a blank from the web. Between the cutterhead and the feed-rolls there is arranged a plate, rod, or bar E4, which lies just above the material for the purpose of preventing the same from bending or buckling up at the time a cutis made by the knife E6. By means of the bolts E7 and slotsES, Fig. 9, the cutterhead and its adjuncts are adjustable longitudinally on the bed for the purpose of determining the exact length of the blanksto be severed.

The folding mechanism of the machine comprises a reciprocating former F', conforming in its outline and proportions to those of the tray to be made by the machine. This former is secured by bolts F2 to a cross-head F2, connected by a pitman or red F4 to mechanism, hereinafter described, for giving the necessary reciprocating movement to the former. The cross-head is supported in standards F6, rising from the bed of the machine and slotted, as at F7, for the passage therethrough of the cross-head and for its connection F5X to pitman F4.

In the bed of the machine and immediately sereni below the former F is an opening FB, practically of the contour of the box to be made. Supported from the bed of the machine and depending in the opening FS there is arranged a folding-box F9, formed in two sections, each similar to the other, one being shown with its l adjuncts in Fig. 5. Each section comprises end and side walls conforming to the size and contour of the box to be made and having at its side wall a projecting bracket F10, with apertures for the passage of bolts F11 for securing the folding-box to the bed of the machine. Within the edge of the side wall there is mounted for oscillation a rod or bar F12, having fingers F13 extending therefrom, and at each end folding-blades F14. Suitable springs F15, secured to the blades and to the bracket, as clearly shown, serve to maintain the folding-blades in a vertical position when not otherwise operated upon, as hereinafter described. Recesses F13X receive the fingers F13 when in a vert-ical position.

F1 represents strippers for holding a tray against being carried upwardly by the formerhead Fl as it returns from its lowest position in its operation. Each of the strippers consists of a beveled face latch-like head F16, formed upon or secured to a spring F17, Fig. 7, secured to the outer surface of the forming-box, the head passing through the openings therein, the normal tendency of the spring being to project the strippers inwardly beyond the surface of the box and to permit their outward movement when the former-head descends within the box, and at its lowest position the strippers are spring-pressed against the former-head above the edge of the box or tray thereon, so as to retain the same against upward movement. The folding-box is of such a depth as to retain within a desired number of trays for the purpose of holding the glued iiaps at the corners in cont-act with each other until they become set or dried. It will be seen that as each successive tray is forced into the folding-box by the forminghead a tray will be forced out of the lower end of` the box, the intermediate trays remaining therein for the purposes stated. As each tray is forced from the box it falls upon an inclined shelf F18, which conducts it upon the iioor or into any suitable receptacle. To adapt the folding-box to material which varies more or less in thickness and to insure setting the glued flaps firmly together, there are provided at each of the corners and near the top of the folding-box spring-pressedpressure-rollers F19. Mounted upon shafts F2O in elongated bearings F21 and against the shafts are arranged the ends of springs F22, secured in any suitable manner, as at F22, to the outer surface of the box. By this means contact of the periphery of the rolls with the corners of the tray or box while on the forming-head as it descends into the box is assured, notwithstanding variations in thickness of the material of which the tray is formed. As be- IOO IIO

fore stated, the folding-box is formed in two sections, one of which is shown in Fig. 5, and the two assembled are shown in Fig. 9, F2l being the line of junction between the two sections of the box. Forming the foldingbox in sections gives several advantages over constructing the same integral, and among them are the facility in manufacturing the same, in applying the adjuncts thereto, and the adjustment of the two sections toward and from each other by forming slots instead of cylindrical holes for the securing-bolts F11 in a manner well known to the mechanic. By this means and by the employment of a cooperating forming-head boxes of different widths may be folded.

The pasting mechanism employed in this invention comprises a paste vessel G, mounted upon a shelf-support G', which in turn is mounted upon brackets G2, employed for supporting the roll of strawboard X. Upon each of the brackets G2 there is a standard G3 for the support of the oscillatin g paste-dauber G", havingpaste-applyingprojectionsG5. These projections G5 are spaced apart, so as to apply paste upon the continuous strip of strawboard in two spots, which may or may not, as desired, be spread by a movement of the web at the time the paste is applied, and which spots occur in the progress of the work of the machine at opposite sides of the line of severance and at opposite ends of the end flaps X5, so that when the blank is folded the flaps XT come against the spots or strips of paste or glue which is applied by the points G5 of the dauber. A rock-arm GG, rigidly connected with the shaft of the dauber, is pivotally connected to a connecting-rod G7, which in turn is connected with a moving part of the machine G8 for giving the desired movement to the dauber. A plate or-shelf H extends from side to side of the machine and has its receiving end curved downwardly, as at H', to prevent injuring the web of material by said plate, and also has sides H2, which may be adjustably secured to the plate in any suitable manner to adapt it to webs of different widths. The principal function of the plate H is to ilatten and guide the web to the guiding-roll H3, this being one of a series for conducting the web upwardly outwardly along over the glue or paste box (arranged near the end of the bed of the machine on a bracket extending therefrom) and to the principal operating devices thereof. At the point where the paste is applied to the web there is a cross-bar H4, mounted in any suitable manner on the extension or bracket H, which constitutes an extension of the bed of the machine, and to this bar is secured a plate H6, having depending sides for the purpose of alining the web while passing beneath the plate, which thus forms a bed or support for the web at the time paste or glue is applied by the dauber G".

It now remains to describe the mechanism for giving the various principal elements of the machine their necessary motions in the relatively proper time. As the feed of the material is intermittent and extends during a time necessary to present the blank length of material to successively arrange devices operating thereupon, it will be seen that the various operations must take place at one time-that is, during the interim between the feeding operations. For i this purpose the transmission of motion to'the principal operating devices of the machine is accomplished by the employment of two shafts, a main shaft from which the longer movements of the former-head and feeding devices are operated and a directly-connected counter-shaft bearing a cam, which is embraced by a pivoted lever that extends beyond the cam, so that the cutting and punching devices may be connected to said lever, the former to the extension of the lever at one side of the cam and the latter at the other side of the cam and between it and the pivot of the lever, by reason of which construction and arrangement practically direct connection is secured and only a slight movement is given, just such as is required to punch and sever the thin material operated upon. Furthermore, these two shafts, with the extended cam-embracing lever, give a balanced smooth even operation of all the parts, none of which is overloaded. i

The feeding element of the machine is operated by driving the connecting-rod D7 from a Wrist-pin D8, projecting from a slotted block D, secured in any desired position diametrically bya bolt D10 to a disk D11 ou the main shaft of the machine, guides or ways D12 on said disk serving to guide the wrist-pin block D9 radially iu all of the adjustments thereof. By means of this adjustable connection the throw of the p'awl-lever D6 may be varied to cause the feed-rolls D to feed more or less of the material at each rotation of the main shaft. The main shaft is provided with fast and loose pulleys I of usual construction and connection. The connecting rod or rods F5, depending from the cross-head, carrying the forming-head F', are adjustably connected with the strap J' of the eccentric J, mounted on the main shaft by means of its threaded end and anut F5 thereon, whereby the throw of the forming-head may be adjusted in its limits. A gear K is mounted upon the main shaft and meshes with a companion gear K', mounted on a counter-shaft K2, whereby rotary motion is conveyed from the main shaft to the counter-shaft. Upon the counter-shaft is mounted the cam K2, which works in a lever L, having a yoke L'. (See dotted lines in Figs. l and 1l.) The lever is continued beyond its yoke and, as at L2, pivotally connected by a strap L3 to the connecting-rod L4, which extends to the cutter-head E2. It is understood that the various connecting-rods thus far described are duplicated, one being at each side of the machine, and that the eccentric and lever L and cam K3 are also du- IOO IIO

plicated in order to give and obtain parallelism in the draft, strain, working, and work of the principal working devices to which the connecting-rods are attached. The connecting-rod Gr7 of the dauber is attached, as at GS, to the periphery of the eccentric-strap J'. Now it will be noticed that as the main shaft revolves the eccentric J gives vertical reciprocation to the forming-head F', and by means of the gears K and K', cam K3, and lever L the cutter-head and the punching-head are given reciprocation by means of the devices L2, L3, and L4 for the cutter-head, L5, L6, and L7 for the punching-head, and-through the medium of the connecting-rod G7 the paste or glue dauber is operated, and these reciprocatory motions and the operation of the dauber take place at such time in the rotation of the main shaft as is occupied by the feed-pawl D3 in moving backward and downward upon the ratchet preparatory to producing a subsequent feed of the material, and, further, that during said further subsequent feed of the material the principal operating devices-those which reciprocate-are being elevated from the material ready for a repetition of their functions.

f The provision of a proper tension device which shall act positively and regular regardless of the amount of material in the roll from which the web is being drawn by the machine is an essential feature of construction in order to produce regularity in the sizes of the product of the machine. A tension device performing this important function is shown at N, and it comprises a leather or other suitable flber or textile pad arranged to bear against the web while on the first guide-roll H3. (See Fig. 1.) This pad extends throughout the width of the web and is carried by levers N', one at each end of the pad, and connected by a plate N2, which serves as a backing or support for the pad as well as a spacer or connecting-bar for the two levers N. These levers may be pivoted in the framework at N3 or in boxes or bearings secured thereto, and they extend beyond said pivotal support, and upon the extensions N4 a weight (or it may be a spring secured to' any fixed part of the frame) is connected. It will now` be seen that regardless of the quantity of material upon the roll the resistance of the tension device upon the web as it enters the machine is uniform at all times and under all circumstances.

The operation of this machine will be readily understood by those skilled in the art. At each progressive step of the material through the machine the punching mechanism B forms the openings X2 and the crossscoring X', and at the same time the cutter severs a blank from a continuous web along the line X5 and simultaneously a previouslysevered blank is forced by the forming-head into the forming-box, the overreaching side and end laps of the blank being turned by the edges of the folding-box in the opening F8. As the forming-head descends it brings the bottom of the blank in contact with the fingers F13, and these cause a rotation of the shaft F12, thereby bringing into operation the folding-blades F14, which carry the end laps X7 inwardly in advance of folding the end laps X6, and afterward are returned to their normal vertical position by means of the springs F15. The spring-pressed rolls F19 now act upon the outer surface of the end iiap XG at the point where paste has been applied and forcibly presses these parts together and against the ends of the forming-head, which carries the box or tray down below the strippers F16, they yielding for the passage of the tray, returning to their normal position after its passage, grasp its upper edges at opposite sides and near the corn ers and retain it within the folding-box as the forming-head ascends. Successive trays are formed until in the operation of the machine a tray is discharged as each successive tray is formed and introduced into the box.

Various changes in proportions and details within the skill of any person conversant with box or tray machines may be made withouta departure from the principle of theinvention, and it is therefore not limited in this regard.

l. In a machine of the class described embodying punching, feeding, cutting and forming mechanisms, the combination therewith of a main shaft and a directly-connected counter-shaft provided with a cam, a pivoted, cam-embracing, lever, rods connecting the forming and feeding mechanisms With the main shaft, and rods connecting the punching and cutting mechanisms with said lever the latter being pivoted at one end to the framework and extending beyond the counter-shaft and adapted to embrace a cam thereon, the point of connection of the last-mentioned rods being at opposite sides of said counter-shaft; substantially as specified.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination with punching devices and cutting devices arranged in the order named, of a lever pivoted at one end and formed with a yoke and an extension beyond said yoke, a shaft carryinga cam located within said yoke, a rod extending from the lever at a point between its yoke and pivot to the said punching devices, and a rod connecting said cutting devices withthe extension of said lever; substantially as specified.

3. In a machine of the class described and IIO IZO

in combination with a guide-roll for the web,

of a tension device comprising a pad arranged to bear against the web on said guide-roll, a

support for said pad, and levers for said support pivoted to the frame of the machine, and a weight secured to extensions of said levers; substantially as specified.

4:. In a machine of Vthe class described, a folding-box formed in sections, each section comprising a side wall and portions of the end walls, and means for rigidly and adj ustably V ing vertical and transverse slots in combination with seampressin g rollers located in said 'vertical slots and shafts for the same located and capable of bodily movement in said transverse slots, and springs arranged to hear on each end of each shaft; substantially as specified.

7. A folding-box formed in sections, each of which s provided with transverse shaft F12 having folders and fingers F13 and recesses FMX for said fingers; substantially as specified.

8. A folding-box section comprising an attaching-bracket, a side wall having recesses for the folder shaft and fingers, strippers Working through openings in said Wall and an end Wall with elongated bearings for a seam-pressing roller; substantially as specified.

9. A folding-box formed of two sections each having a supporting-bracket, a side wall with openings and strippers projecting therethrough and portions of end walls having mounted in recesses therein seam-pressing rollers, shafts for the same mounted in transverse slots, springs carried by each section and bearing ou the ends of said shafts, and means for rigidly securing each section to the bed of the machine; substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof We affix our signatures in presence of two Witnesses.

CLAYTON F. VVIEST. JACOB L. VVIEST.

Witnesses:

L. B. WAMPLER, NOAH C. MAY. 

